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Injection Molding Service Charged by the hour - /Hour - FREE Quotes

$ 31.67

Availability: 100 in stock

Description

DETAILS:
We are a small business shop located in Northern California specializing in small scale, low volume plastic injection molding runs and services for production and prototypes. We cater to those in search of someone who can produce the parts for them without the hefty price tag and required minimum order quantity (MOQ) that are often offered by larger manufacturing companies. With us, you only pay for the machine time needed to produce the number of copies you need. Once we give you an estimate of how many hours it will take to complete your project, that is the quantity you will put in when you place your order.
Please Note: We DO NOT manufacture aluminum molds. You will have to find your own mold maker or manufacturer and provide us a mold before we can start on your project. This listing is ONLY for plastic injection service.
PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the size, complexity and specific requirements of your part, we may be able to 3D Print your mold (See pics above of our custom toy accessories that were injection molded using a 3D Printed mold), reducing the cost for you even more! Please inquire and we can give more details.
Once your order is placed, we will respond back with an order number while we wait for your mold to arrive. You will then send us your mold (shipping address will be provided) and once we receive it, we will start work on it right away. Once completed (usually in 2 hours or less depending on amount of plastic needed), we will ship the injected parts back to you along with your mold. It's that easy!
VERY AFFORDABLE, and a FRACTION OF THE COST you will have to pay compared to large manufacturing companies. Here is an example of how much money you can save when doing business with us.
Let's say you need a small part made (6 grams of plastic per part) and only need 100 pcs for testing and prototyping:
Large Manufacturing Company:
Cost of Aluminum Mold (single cavity) - 0 to ,500+ (most manufacturing companies will not accept molds made from outside of their company and will require to make the mold to be used in their machine, since this is a liability for them)
Cost of Injection Molding (500 PCS Min Order Quantity (MOQ)) - 0 and up (Even if you only need 100 pcs to start with, you are still required to pay their minimum order quantity price).
With Us:
Cost of Aluminum Mold - This will vary from vendor to vendor. Talk to your local CNC shop in your area and see how much they charge. We DO NOT require molds to be made by a specific vendor(s). We are an independent operating company and we believe that our customers should have the freedom to choose their own mold maker or manufacturer. As long as the mold is within the parameters of our machine (please see below), we will inject it! From experience, local vendors and/or independent contractors found on CL or other classified ads who offers CNC services usually provides a much affordable price.
Cost of Injection Molding - 100 PCS (6 grams of plastic per part) can be done in 2 hours! You will order 2 QTY from the listing and pay 0. The amount includes the cost of plastic, labor AND shipping to ship the injected parts and your mold back to you. ALL shipping will be via USPS Priority Mail, so you can get them much faster!
*** So, even if your mold cost 0 to make by your mold vendor, you would still save a TON of money overall when you have us inject the plastic for you.
PLEASE BE SURE TO REQUEST FOR A MACHINE TIME BEFORE PURCHASING:
Before placing an order and purchasing, please make sure to contact us first so that we can give you an estimate. Most jobs/runs can be done in 3 hours or less, and ships out the very next business day. Please read the INSTRUCTIONS section below to find out how you can place an order now!
INSTRUCTIONS:
Please send all of the following information via eBay message
1.) Do you already have a mold made, ready for plastic injection?
2.) Tell us a little bit about your part - What is this part for? What is its purpose?
PLEASE NOTE: We will NOT make parts or pieces that are sexual in content, unlawful, drug related, offensive and/or harmful to others, etc. These are against eBay policy and we also DO NOT approve of such content in our shop. Thanks for understanding.
3.) Estimate of plastic needed to fill the cavity or cavities of your mold - Your 3d model designer and/or mold maker should be able to provide this information to you.
PLEASE NOTE: Our machine has a 1.1 cubic inch or 18 grams shot size. Unfortunately, if your part requires more plastic than this, we will not be able to do the job.
4.) Please make sure the mold is within these parameters (Answer YES or NO to each)
a.) Mold sprue hole (injection hole) is 1/4 inch or 0.25 inch
b.) Overall outside dimensions of the mold is LESS THAN 8 inch Wide x 5 inch Tall x 5 inch Deep
5.) Plastic Material you want used - Currently, we only have Polypropylene in black color until we receive more in stock.
6.) Once we receive your message, we will respond back with the amount of time needed to complete your project. From there, you can purchase the QTY needed from the listing and that is what you will pay.
7.) Once paid, we will send an email to you with an order number while we wait for your mold to arrive at our shop. We will also send you the address you need to ship your mold to. When mailing the mold to us, please include in the packaging your eBay user ID. This will help us identify your mold quicker and prevent delays.
PLASTIC MATERIALS:
Currently, we are only able to provide Polypropylene (PP) plastic in black color. Our plastic materials are back ordered from our supplier and we are waiting for more to come in. If you want a different plastic material in a different color, please let us know in your message and we can tell you what we currently have available.
Polypropylene (PP) - A strong and flexible plastic that can bend without breaking. It is one of the most widely used type of plastic in several industries today. We use them in our shop for manufacturing custom toy parts and accessories that does not require exposure to outside elements and/or high temperatures.
OUR MACHINE:
We use the PIM-SHOOTER Model 150A from LNS Technologies. It has a 1.1 cubic inch or 18 grams shot size capacity, capable of reaching temperatures to melt plastic up to 500 F. It can accept molds of different sizes up to no more than 8 inches wide, 5 inches tall and 5 inches deep.
TERMS OF SALE:
We strive to provide the best customer service experience. If you are not happy with the service you received from us, please contact us directly and we can discuss. We will make it right. If you're not happy, we're not happy. You may cancel your order for a full refund before you mail out the mold to us. If you decide to cancel your order after you've already mailed out your mold to us, we can provide a full refund minus the amount of shipping to ship your mold back to you.
SHIPPING INFORMATION:
Once we finish the job, we will ship your parts and your mold via USPS Priority Mail for FREE. We will send tracking information to you via eBay message. Most jobs are shipped out within the next business day.
FAQ:
Q: How many pieces can your machine make in one hour?
A: It depends on the part size and type of plastic being injected. Larger sizes will need a little additional time to cool down before being taken out of the mold. The same concept applies to different plastic materials. Currently, we average about 60 - 90 pcs per hour, using a full aluminum mold with polypropylene plastic.
Q: What does the hourly rate cover?
A: It will cover the cost of plastic, labor and cost of shipping the parts and mold back to you.
Q: My estimate was 2 hrs for 50 pcs. I thought this should have been done in 1 hr?
A: We provide estimates based on quantity, size of your part and the cost of plastic needed to cover your parts. Larger parts require more plastic. If this is the case, we will add additional hours to cover the cost of plastic. Also, larger parts will require additional time to cool and harden before it can be taken out of the mold without damage. This can also increase the time QTY needed.
Q: Where do I send my mold to for injection?
A: Address will be provided to you once you pay for the estimated hours and receive an email from us with an order number.
Q: Do I get the mold back?
A: Absolutely! This is a part of our commitment. When we finish injecting your parts and ship them to you, your mold will go along with it.
Q: The part I want made is sensitive information for me and my own company. How can I make sure that it will NOT be disclosed to others and the public?
A: We understand the importance of protecting sensitive information. We have dealt with hundreds of previous satisfied customers who were in need of the same thing. We can assure you that we are here to ONLY inject and make the parts for you as promised. You can also supply a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for each project and we will gladly sign them for you at no extra charge for your peace of mind.
Q: Maybe 3D Printing is ideal instead of injection molding?
A: It really all depends on what you're trying to do. We have 2 3d printers in our shop that we use for prototyping, and we love them! One thing that 3d printers cannot compare with an injection molding machine is SPEED and QUALITY (surface finish). Filament based printers (FDM) will show lines on the part's surface. Depending on what you're going to use the part for, this can present a problem. Resin type printers (SLA) can produce parts that has incredible surface finish, but will take a long time producing in quantities. From previous experience, companies that offer 3d printing services can offer both speed and quality at the same time, but comes at a cost. Sometimes, the cost of doing this doesn't make any sense because the cost is almost equal or less to that of making an aluminum mold and getting low volume pcs injected by us. 3D printing is NOT intended for volumes. On the contrary, sometimes a part is more suited for 3d printing. For example, a prototype piece where lines on the surface is not a concern since you're still on the early stages of product development and you only need a couple pieces made. If you are unsure which method is suitable for your project, feel free to send us a message. We will be more than happy to give you our honest opinion without the feeling of being pressured to buy our service.
Q: What is the typical turnaround and when can I expect my injected parts?
A: Most orders are done the same day we receive the mold in the shop (depending on quantity needed and current workload). They will ship out the following business day once completed. Shipping is FREE and EXPEDITED via USPS Priority Mail. Tracking information will be provided once we print the shipping label.
Q: Can you make the mold?
A: NO. We do not manufacture molds. Please see the requirements and parameters in the "Instructions" section in order to ensure that the mold(s) will be compatible with our machine.
Q: Should I place an order now while I get the mold made by my mold maker / manufacturer?
A: No. We recommend you do not place your order until you have the mold ready in hand, ready to ship to us. When you inquire for an estimate, this is one of the questions we ask. If you do not have a mold ready yet, we will not be able to provide an estimate until you have one.
Q: Does the mold have to be aluminum?
A: Aluminum molds are the most cost effective for injection molding and are the ones we highly recommend. However, we can also accept steel and other types of metal molds as long as it is within our specified mold requirements and parameters mentioned in the "Instructions" section.
Q: I've heard of 3d printed molds for injection molding. Is this possible as an alternative to pure aluminum molds to keep my costs down?
A: 3D Printed molds are becoming more and more common with low volume runs and prototyping. As a matter of fact, we use them in our shop as well. However, since we will be injecting hot molten plastic into a plastic made mold, the mold will degrade and lose quality over a short period of time. If you are interested in utilizing a 3d printed mold, we will REQUIRE the 3d printed mold to be inside an aluminum frame in order to prevent the machine nozzle from making direct contact with the 3d printed mold. Also, we will only be able to inject plastics with low melting temperatures for obvious reasons (Polypropylene and Polyethylene). The cooling cycle times will also increase, typically 3 to 4 minutes in between each shot to prevent heat build up and risk damaging the mold. The QTY needed will definitely increase. If you want to use 3d printed molds, please contact us first since we will need to make arrangements and make sure that the aluminum frame you will supply will be compatible with our machine.
PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the size, complexity and specific requirements of your part, we may be able to 3D Print your mold (See pics above of our custom toy accessories that were injection molded using a 3D Printed mold), reducing the cost for you even more! Please inquire and we can give more details.
Q: What different types of plastic do you offer?
A: Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), ABS and soft rubber like plastic materials such as TPE/TPV. Please note, the hourly rate is calculated using PP plastic. Other plastics may cost more, so if your project require other plastic materials, we may add an additional hour (or more) in our estimate to account for plastic cost.
Q: Do you offer different colors?
A: Yes, depending on availability for the plastic material of your choice. We typically keep in stock of PP in Black, White, Gray and Orange. Other materials such as ABS are usually only available in Black. Please send us a message to see if we have the material and color in stock.
Q: Are there any kind of post-processing necessary?
A: One of the best things about injection molding is its ability to produce parts in quantities fast, without much post-processing. The only thing you'll need to do after you receive your parts is to "break off" or "snap off" the excess plastic from the sprue attached to your part. We DO NOT remove the extra plastic and leave that responsibility to our customers to ensure safe arrival without any damages.